Roller retaining means for drawer suspension



July 16, 1957 c. F. WOLTERS ROLLER RETAINING MEANS FOR DRAWER SUSPENSIONFiled Nov. 18, 1954 w in w \-n new INVEN TOR. CARLv F. WOLTERS FIG.4

by 74% fi ATTORNEYS FIGS ROLLER RETAINING MEANS FOR DRAWER SUSPENSIONCarl F. Wolters, New Canaan, Conn., assignor to Sperry Rand Corporation,a corporation of Delaware Application November 18, 1954, Serial No.469,808

6 Claims. (Cl. 3ll8-3.8)

This invention relates generally to filing cabinets of the drawer typeand more specifically to an improved retaining means for travelingrollers used in drawer suspensions of such cabinets.

Drawer filing cabinets as manufactured today usually include travelingrollers which are mounted for longitudinal movement within the channelmembers of the drawer suspensions. These movable or traveling rollershave heretofore been retained within the channel members of the drawersuspensions entirely by a short stub axle which projects sidewardly fromthe roller and through a longitudinal slot in a flange of the channelmembers. While this method of retaining the traveling rollers in thechannel members is extremely simple and inexpensive from a manufacturingviewpoint, it has certain objectionable disadvantages in that theconventional stub axles are extremely short and therefore have atendency to become accidentally disengaged from the slots. Thiscondition occurs whenever the slotted flange of the channel member isunduly flexed or sprung away from the roller during operation of thedrawer allowing the short stub axle to leave the slot and the travelingroller to become disengaged from the channel member.

One object of the present invention is to provide means for eliminatingall danger of accidental displacement or loss of traveling rollers fromthe channels of drawer suspensions used in drawer filing cabinets.

The invention further contemplates the provision of a longer axle forthe traveling roller and a retaining means for the roller which is ofsimple one-piece design; economical to manufacture; and capable of beingquickly, conveniently and permanently installed.

Various other objects and features of the invention will become apparentfrom the following detailed description relating to the accompanyingdrawing, wherein one form of the invention is illustrated.

The essential characteristics of the invention are summarized in theclaims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the rear portion of aconventional file drawer suspension embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective detail of the roller retaining meansbefore installation, and

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are enlarged vertical cross sections taken through thecenter line of one of the improved traveling rollers and its retainingmeans at a point along the channel member as indicated by the line 55 inFig. 1 to illustrate the method of assembling the improved travelingroller and its retaining means within the channel member of a drawersuspension.

In the embodiment of the invention as illustrated and which shows apreferred construction, the rear portion of a conventional drawersuspension is indicated generally by reference character A in Fig. 1.Such drawer suspension usually comprises a pair of parallel channelmembers 6 which are joined to one another in spaced relation atent by apair of cross bars 7. Each channel member 6 of the drawer suspensionusually comprises an outer vertical main flange 8, a lower horizontalflange 9 inwardly directed from the lower end of flange 8, an upperhorizontal flange 10 inwardly directed from the top of flange 8, and aninner vertical flange 11 which depends from the upper horizontal flange1t) and is parallel with the outer vertical main flange 8.

The lower horizontal flange 9 of channel member 6 is usually providedwith a pair of apertures 12 through which the lower portion of fixedrollers 13 project. Each fixed roller 13 is rotatably journalled upon anaxle 14 which is suitably mounted on main flange 8 as clearly shown inFig. 1. The rear end of channel members 6 is provided with a fixedroller 15 the upper portion of which projects through an aperture 16 inthe upper horizontal flange 10. Each fixed roller 15 is similarlyrotatably journalled on an axle 17 which is mounted in the verticalinner flange 11 and outer main flange 8.

In addition to the three fixed rollers just described for each channelmember 6, conventional drawer suspensions heretofore have included atraveling roller having a short stub axle which rolls within alongitudinal slot 20 formed in the inner vertical flange 11. To assemblethis type of traveling roller with its associated channel member thevertical flange 11 is sprung away from the main flange 8 to permit theshort protruding stub axle to enter and engage the walls of slot 21).However, as previously mentioned this method of retaining the travelingroller within its channel between the vertical flanges 8 and 11 isobjectionable due to the fact that the short axle has a tendency tobecome accidentally disengaged from the slot 20 during operation of thedrawer suspension.

The description thus far has described the usual and well knownconstruction of file draw suspensions and reference will now be made tothe improved traveling rollers and novel retaining means thereforforming the subject matter of the present invention.

To insure against accidental loss or disengagement of the travelingroller 18 from its channel member 6 the present invention contemplatesthe provision of a longer roller axle 19 in cooperation with a new andnovel retaining means, the latter being generally indicated by referencecharacter B in Fig. 2. The length of roller axle 19 is greatly increasedaccording to the present invention by recessing the roller 18 asindicated by reference character C in Fig. 3 without causing the freeend of the axle to project any further beyond the axle side of theroller than heretofore.

Referring now to Fig. 2 the roller retaining means B for each travelingroller 18 preferably comprises a sheet metal strip bent upon itself toform three portions indicated by reference numerals 21, 22 and 23respectively. As shown in Fig. 2 portion 21 is provided with a hole oraperture 24 adapted to receive axle 19 of traveling roller 18 in amanner presently described. Portion 21 of roller retaining means B isfurther provided with opposed notches 25 to facilitate bendingsubstantially along the dotted line 26 shown in Fig. 2 during assemblyin the following manner.

When inserting the traveling roller 18 into its associated channelmember 6, portion 21 of retaining member B is inserted through theelongated slot 20 as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Roller 18 is next insertedbetween the flanges 8 and 11 and by slightly springing the lower end offlange 11 to the right as viewed in Fig. 3 the protruding end of axle 19will clear or'pass the end of flange 11. With roller 18 and itsretaining means B in the position shown in Fig. 3 upward pressure uponthe roller18 causes portion 21 to bend along the line 26 and as theperiphery of the roller approaches the upper horizontal flange 10' axle19 enters the hole or aperture 24 in portion 21 and slot 2i? as clearlyillustrated in Fig. 4.

When roller 1% assumes the position shown in Fig. 4, portion 23 ofretaining member B is then forced inwardly, by sharply hitting it with ahammer, until it is adjacent the outer surface of flange 11 as shown inFig. 5. As portion 23 is driven against flange 11 portion 21 ofretaining member B is reversely bent along the line 26 and portion 22 isdriven into recess C until it is substantially parallel with axle 19.The greater part of axle 19 now projects beyond the aperture 24 but itsfree end is substantially within the slot 2%) as clearly shown in'Fig.5.

It will now be clear that when portion 23 is forced inwardly so as tolie parallel with the outer surface of flange 11 (Fig. 5) axle 19 ofroller 18 is journalled within the aperture 24 thus preventing theroller 18 from becoming accidentally disengaged from its channel memberin the event flange 11 is sprung away from flange 8 sufliciently towithdraw axle 19 from slot 2t? during operation of the drawer. in otherwords should flange 11 be accidentally sprung away from flange 8, duringoperation of the drawer suspension,'tl'ie traveling roller 18 cannot'b'e disengaged from its channel member 6 due to the fact that itsaxle 19 projects well beyond the aperture 24 in retaining member B asclearly shown in Fig. 5 and in order for the roller to become disengagedfrom its channel it will be necessary to draw portion 23 away fromfiange 11 to free the axle from the aperture.

It will now be apparent from the foregoing detailed description of theretaining member B that disengagement of the traveling roller 18 fromits channel member 6 no longer depends upon the engagement of axle 19with slot 20. Instead the roller is retained within its channel membersolely by engagement of axle 19 with retaining member B, and as theroller travels longitudinally within its channel member the retainingmember B is caused to follow since axle 19 is journalled within aperture24 and portion 22 therefore slides along the bottom edge of slot 21during longitudinal movement of the roller.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art of drawersuspension that numerous variations and modifications may be made in theparticular construction without departing from the underlying principlesof the invention. It is therefore desired, by the following claims, toinclude within the scope of the invention, all such variations andmodifications whereby substantially the results of the invention may beobtained by the use of substantially the same or equivalent means.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a drawer suspension of the type including spaced parallel channelmembers having an elongated slot in one wall thereof and formed toprovide a trackway to receive a travelling roller, means for retainingsaid roller within said trackway comprising: an axle for said rollerprojecting laterally therefrom and at its outer end lying in said slot;a plate of metal having an upper portion disposed between the roller andthe trackway above the axle, a second portion provided with an apertureto receive said axle and bent inwardly away from said elongate slot, anda third portion projecting horizontally outward from the lower end ofsaid bent portion and resting on the bottom of said elongate slot.

2. In a drawer suspension of the type including spaced parallel channelmembers having an elongate slot in one wall thereof and formed toprovide a trackway to receive a travelling roller, means for retainingsaid roller within said trackway comprising: an axle for said rollerprojecting laterally therefrom and at its outer end lying in said slot;a plate of metal having an upper portion disposed between the roller andthe trackway above the axle, a second portion provided with an apertureto receive said axle and bent inwardly away from said elongate slot, anda third portion projecting horizontally outward from the lower end ofsaid bent portion and resting on the bottom of said elongate slot, saidplate having a fourth portion bent downwardly from the outer edge of thehorizontal portion and lying against the outer face of the slottedchannel member.

3. in a drawer suspension of the type having a pair of parallel channelmembers each of which includes parallel inner and outer walls forming achannel member and with an elongate slot in the inner wall incombination with a travelling roller having an axle projecting laterallytherefrom with the free end lying in said slotted channel member; saidroller having a recess formed in the axle side thereof and concentricwith the axle; a plate of stiff metal having an upper portion lyingabove the axle between the roller and the slotted channel member, anintermediate portion bent inwardly away from said slotted channel memberand disposed in said recess and having apertures receiving said axle,and a lower portion bent horizontally from the lower edge of the bentportion and resting upon the lower edge of said slot.

4. In a drawer suspension of the type having a pair of parallel channelmembers each of which includes parallel inner and outer walls forming achannel member and with an elongate slot in the inner wall incombination with a travelling roller having an axle projecting laterallytherefrom with the free endlying in said slotted channel member; saidroller having a recess formed in the axle side thereof and concentricwith the axle; a plate of stiff metal ha /in an uper portion lying abovethe axle between the roller and the slotted channel memher, anintermediate portion bent inwardly away from said slotted channel memberand disposed in said recess and having apertures receiving said axle,and a lower portion bent horizontally from the lower edge of the bentportion and resting upon the lower edge of said slot, said plate havingstill another portion bent downwardly from the outer edge of thehorizontal portion and lying against the outer face of the slottedchannel member.

5. In a drawer suspension of the type including spaced parallel channelmembers having an elongate slot in one of the channel members to providea trackway to receive a travelling roller, said roller having an axleextending laterally therefrom having its free end lying in said slot,the invention which includes a retaining plate of still metalcooperating with said roller and having an upper portion disposed abovethe axle between the roller and the slotted channel member, an aperturedintermediate portion connected to the lower end of the upper portion andweakened along the junction line therebetween, said intermediate portionbent inwardly away from the slotted channel member, a third portion ofthe plate connected to the lower end of the bent portion and extendinghorizontally therefrom through the elongate slot in the channel memberand resting on the lower edge thereof, said plate having a fourthportion bent downward from the outer end of said horizontal portion andlying against the outer face of the slotted channel member.

6. In a drawer suspension of the type including spaced parallel channelmembers having an elongate slot in one of the channel members to providea trackway to receive a travelling roller, said roller having an axleextending laterally therefrom having its free end lying in said slot,the invention which includes a retaining plate of stiff metalcooperating with said roller and having an upper portion disposed abovethe axle between the roller and the slotted channel member, an aperturedintermediate portion connected to the lower end of the upper portion andweakened along the junction line therebetween, said intermediate portionbent inwardly away from the slotted channel member, a third portion ofthe plate connected to the lower end of the bent portion and extendinghorizontally therefrom through the elongate slot in the channel memberand resting on the lower edge thereof, said plate having a fourthportion bent downward from the outer end of said horizontal portion andlying against the outer face of the slotted channel memher, said rollerhaving a recess on its lateral side from which the axle projects and inwhich the bent portion of the retaining plate is disposed.

References Cited in the file of this patent

